The Bell Curve

City Paper's Quality-o-Life-o-Meter

- 1 City Council accuses the Redevelopment Authority of not obtaining proper Council approval before moving forward on deals. "Well, pardon us for thinking we had, you know, redevelopment authority."

+ 2 Gov. Ed Rendell cancels a $30,000 taxpayer-funded PR project for himself, saying he "will not spend one dime of the taxpayers' money on the assemblage of things that are for legacy purposes." Adding: "And you can hold me to that. In fact, etch my statement in the finest marble so that future generations may also hold me to that!"

+ 1 Mayor Nutter hires Catie C. Wolfgang to be Philly's first chief service officer, whose job it is to recruit volunteers to help with various city programs. Her first task: To persuade herself to do the work for free.

0 "I haven't seen someone use one of those in a long time," police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore says about FOP courtesy cards, which carriers flash to cops in hopes of avoiding tickets. Adding: "Cough, cough."

+ 3 Conan O'Brien wears a Flyers jersey at a Tower Theater show. He looked exactly like Chris Pronger's skeleton.

+ 1 Tony Danza prepares for his speech at Northeast High's graduation ceremony. "Class of 2010, I leave you wit the advice I once gave Samanta and Jonnatin. The nights are long but you're on your way to a brand new life, a brand new life, a brand new life around the bend."

- 4 Urban Outfitters begins selling a controversial T-shirt that reads "Eat Less." And another that says "Wear Crap."

0 Union leader John Dougherty becomes the Democratic ward leader of the 1st District. And then he wept, because there were no more worlds to conquer.

0 The state legislature considers raising the gas tax to avoid a budget crisis. "Good luck with that," says Nutter. "I just got my balls handed to me in a non-biodegradable bottle by Big Soda."

This week's total: -3 | Last week's total: 31